D'Allara Drop Point - Yesh!!!

[thombrogan]

Thanks to the generosity of Gunmike1, my unworthy self is EDCing a D'Allara Drop Point. The steel-lined FRN feels more rugged than steel-lined G-10 or micarta. The palm swell fills my hand comfortably and securely in every grip I've tried. The hollow-ground VG-10 blade is thick enough to be rugged and thin enough to do everyday cutting tasks (a little thick for my tastes, but I'm not thinning it; Thomas Welk has corrupted me into finding the beauty of the original geometry of my knives - I'm trying to corrupt him with a wafer-thin ZDP D4). The wire pocket clip and area on the scale it touches hold the knife in place a little without threatening to eat pockets. The action is smoother than melted butter over glass even when the pivot is cranked down as tight as can be (smoother than the Caly3, even). The Ball-Bearing Lock passes spinewhacks and has twisting and light fouling removed from the list of lock defeaters (are you listening linerlocks and lockbacks? ). The swelling at the pommel area allows for instant retrieval and indexing, though at the expense of making it difficult or unwieldy to implement a Caly3/UKPK/Meerkat deep-cary wire clip.

Due to the shape of the handle, the sturdiness imparted by its steel-lined FRN scales, and the stout-but-efficient saber hollow-grind, this knife just feels like a beast. Cuts hardwoods like a beast, too. Just opening the knife prior to cutting makes me feel like State Trooper Arcot Ramathorn right after he drank a caraffe of maple syrup:

I'm all that is man!

Thanks, Gunmike1 and Spyderco, for such an awesome blade!

The bottom line is that if you want something tougher than a Delica, Endura, or Caly3 (and why should you? What's the matter with you? Are you that ungracious of all the cutting those knives let you do? When I was a kid, I had to cut with a competitor's knife both ways in the pouring sleet), the D'Allara Drop Point offers the smoothness and refinement of some select high-end knives with the ruggedness and performance of other high end knives (not naming the brands, either, so nyah!) with a look and sharpness that is uniquely Spyderco. And it costs $200-400 less than those knives and has a more reliable lock, too!

[gunmike1]

I'm glad you like it! I just got my Manix for Christmas, and the D'Allara, as great as it is, just wasn't going to push the Manix out of my pocket as my primary HD EDC. It is an incredible knife, and all of the qualities you mentioned really make it stand out as an incredible bargain and performer, and I figured you would get more use out of it than me so I was happy to pass it on to you. Spydercos beg to be varried and worked, and I'd much rather your pocket kept it company than to have it sit in my drawer. You have done me plenty of favors over the past few months, I'm glad to see I could recipricate a little. Let us know how it holds up, I think it will do fine considering how solid it is built. Definately the smoothest knife I have ever handled, and the strongest Spyderco I have handled short of the Manixes.

Mike

[jaislandboy]

congrats on the D'Allara DP Thom! it's a heck of a knife for the $.... :cool:

[Axlis]

More praise of the D'Allara? I can't stand it, I have to have one!

Thanks for the great review, now where's all the pics? :D

[dedguy]

The D'Allara seems very similar to the Native in my eyes. A knife often over looked as it falls into a similar price and use category as the Endura/Delica line. This is a shame as both the Native and D'Allara are exceptional values for the money.

[thombrogan]

Thanks for the great review, now where's all the pics?

They're here:









Now who's rugged enough to carry this bombproof juggernaut of insane matter separation?

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:p


Gunmike1,

Thanks again! I'm a mere joah in the face of your generosity.

[elt1]

Ditto! :D

My D'Allara has not been outta my pocket the past week. Love to hear that ball-lock snap open... plus its a freaking tank.

Nice review!

[ront]

I say it every chance I get. The D'Allara Drop Point is one of the biggest sleepers in Spyderco's line that there is. It is a great knife at a VERY reasonable price!!
Nice review thombrogan.

Ron

[gunmike1]

Again, I'm glad you like it and are putting it to work, Thom! I would hate to make a poor Spyderco bored by sitting around, and I knew you would like it. It looks like it fits you hands a little better, I'm no huge guy but my hands do bump up against the front and back swells on that knife when I grip it. I guess I have fat paws, hence my love of the Manix (and Glock 20, which is famous for a large grip). Anyway, it is a tremendous knife at a tremendous price, I just have my Thom reprofiled Manix for HD use that isn't budging from my pocket, though I wish it was as smooth and had a comfortable wire clip like the D'Allara. Plus, with another forum member (Sodak) giving me a Native 3 and fronting me a Tom Krein reground ZDP-189 Caly Jr. it feels good to give away something instead of being on the take constantly.

Enjoy, Mike

[thombrogan]

The D'Allara seems very similar to the Native in my eyes.

Got an S30V Native when they first came out, too. Agreed that it's a very great knife. Love how the unlined FRN on the Native still feels tankish.

Come to think of it, I'm liking FRN more and more these days. Knives like the D'Allara (and Native and Atlantic Salt and D4) make it easy.

Gunmike1,

Thanks for the kind words. Hopefully, you'll be getting something in the mail today. And thanks for my new EDC.

[gunmike1]

The D'Allara seems very similar to the Native in my eyes. A knife often over looked as it falls into a similar price and use category as the Endura/Delica line. This is a shame as both the Native and D'Allara are exceptional values for the money.

I is VERY similar to the Native 3, with both having the 3D textured FRN handles and the wire clips. They are 2 of the most ergonomic knives I've held (I just love wire clips and the 3D texturing fills the hand nice on both knives), and they are both tremendous values. Definately under rated and under appreciated in my eyes, as you don't seem to hear too much about them.

Mike

[thombrogan]

Gunmike1,

Last night, I used the acid-etched side of the Hand-American glass with water as an adhesive and repolished the edge of the D'Allara Drop Point with their 4K, 9K, and 50K sandpaper. The 50K seemed waterlogged and wouldn't lay flat enough for edge-leading honing, but it also my defacto last-minute perpendicular stropping surface so it still kicked goodness.

The edge FLEW through hardwood leaving huge, ugly curls, but the surface left behind (on the spork I'm making) was extremely shiny.

[AUXCOM]

Hey Thom,

Congrats on the new acquisition!

Sorry to chime in so late on this thread, but I wanted to add my comments as well. As others have said I think this is a sleeper. I know it was in my mind for two reasons:

1. I didn't bother to educate myself on the "ball lock" and foolishly thought it not as reliable as others used by :spyder:

2. Since I didn't "get in" on the original D'Allara 911 model, I didn't think there was any reason to consider any variations.

Boy was I wrong on both points!!

A recent trip (read that "pilgrimage") to the SFO allowed me to handle the "DDP" for the 1st time. I instantly fell in love with the way it fit in my hand, and I too am very impressed with the blade shape. Further conversation with
an extremely helpful (and patient :) SFO staff member brought to light the extreme reliability of the ball lock. He indicated that during testing the handles actually broke under pressure, while the ball lock still held fast.

This is definitely on my list for '07, and will be immediately be put into EDC rotation. And I'll try not to be so quick to judge on so little information again
(hey not a bad philosophy to migrate over into other areas of life as well :D )

[JaM]

Im pondering to get one, but... does anyone have any photos with the Delica and the D'Allara in hand ? Just to get an idea about hand-size vs handle-ratio ?

Thanks, and good luck with the knife !

[thombrogan]

JaM,

Here are pics of the Delica 3 in my hand:






AUXCOM,

That kind of reckless philosophy will lead to a lot less internet feuding if it spreads; please keep it to yourself Just kidding. One of my friends recently got shunned by folks whom he thought were his friends for the fatal act of non-judgemental honesty, so I hope more of us can share your outlook and apply to more than just folders with the Ball-Bearing Lock.

[zenheretic]

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Thombrogan do you live in "The Land of the Lost"?! :eek: That looks like one giant prehistoric butterfly! Is your internet access reliable or do the Tricerotops keep eating the cables linking your house to the outside world? :D

[thombrogan]

I have dial-up, so it's not so reliable.

My daughter and I were playing butterflies and I took a break to check out Krein's forum.

[JaM]

Thanks for the pictures, guess Im still unsure about the handlesize :D .
Is there another spydie out there with a "larger than normal" handle ? Including a "not-so-thinness" like the Endura (size = okay, but I find the handle a thad too thin) ...?

BTW, what did you do inbetween the pictures of the D'Allara and the Delica, did something bite you ?? :D

Best regards,
JaM

[thombrogan]

Dry winter air bit my hands. Eczema for the win.

I've had an Endura and look to get one with British Racing Green scales, a ZDP-189 blade, and a Tom Krein regrind when the time comes.

The handle on the D'Allara is wider and thicker than the Endura and swells to securely lock in the hand.

Until you hold one in your hands, the confusion will remain. When you do hold one in your hands, especially if the Endura's handle is too thin for your liking, you will wonder why you ever had any doubts.

[catamount]

I've had an Endura and look to get one with British Racing Green scales, a ZDP-189 blade, and a Tom Krein regrind when the time comes.

I've been thinking the same thing. Great minds... :D Did you see that the Enduras should be available shortly?

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26883